Mission Statement

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary (SUM) equips indigenous leaders from America and the nations of the world by offering an affordable theological education combining academic instruction with practical hands-on ministry and personal mentorship. Our mission empowers these leaders to be instruments of change in their communities.

"Empowering Leaders for the Fivefold Ministry"

Principles, Purposes, and Goals

The following principles, purposes, and goals, were duly drafted through a committee with various representatives from within SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary. It was approved with amendments by the Executive Committee in the summer of 2014.

The Mission of SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary is guided by the following Foundational Principles, institutional goals and objectives which form the basis of SUM’s educational programs.

Statement of Faith

Foundational Principles

I. Bible - The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible authoritative rule of faith and conduct.

II. Evangelistic Urgency - The Bible teaches that humanity is lost, in danger of eternal damnation, and is in desperate need of a Savior. The Bible further teaches that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died to save mankind from their sins, a salvation which can only be obtained through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work upon the cross and in the resurrection.

III. Kingdom Living - When God redeems people, He calls individual believers to glorify Him through love, holiness and a life of ministry within the context of a local church. Through this we advance the Kingdom globally to reflect God’s love for men and women of all ethnicities until “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” worship before the throne of God (Revelation 7:9).

IV. Pentecostal – Our Lord Jesus Christ has entrusted the mission of bringing the Kingdom to men and women through the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe God supplies supernatural power to accomplish his work today, including signs, wonders, healings, and deliverance from works of darkness and demonic powers.

V. Fivefold Ministry -. The means by which God advances His Kingdom is by calling men and women for the Fivefold Ministry, who in turn equip the Church for ministry. “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” (Eph 4:11-12)

Foundational Principles

Bible

Evangelistic Urgency

Kingdom Living

Pentecostal

Fivefold Ministry

Institutional Goals

Foster and promote a collegiate climate in which the Bible is central to every area of life

Create an atmosphere that nurtures a sense of urgency to share the gospel to the lost.

Create an environment that encourages and facilitates Kingdom Lifestyle.

Appreciate our evangelical-Pentecostal-charismatic church heritage relational to the communities we serve.

Value the gifting and calling of individual believers and provide programs that nurture towards effectiveness in walking in the unique call of being an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, and a teacher.

Institutional Objectives

Foster and promote a collegiate climate in which the Bible is central to every area of life.

SUM students urgently evangelize those who are lost and in desperate need of salvation from Jesus. Every SUM student consistently engages in evangelistic ministry, developing a life-long habit.

SUM students glorify God through love, holiness and a life of ministry within the context of a local church.

SUM students fulfill their calling in the mission of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. They seek to trust God who supernaturally supplies power to accomplish his work today including a variety of signs, wonders, healings, and deliverance from works of darkness and demonic powers.

SUM students fulfill the mission of God by following their calling in the Fivefold ministry to equip the church and build up the body of Christ as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.